11th Circ. Says Fla. Properties Can't Satisfy Venezuela Debt

By Caroline Simson

The Eleventh Circuit has refused to revive litigation aimed at enforcing $43.4 million worth of defaulted Venezuelan bonds by seizing control of various Miami properties allegedly controlled by a wealthy businessman accused of bribing Venezuelan officials, saying there was no jurisdiction.

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11th Circ. Upholds Deportation Over Child-Neglect Conviction

By Carolina Bolado

The Eleventh Circuit on Thursday upheld the deportation of a Chilean green card holder who pled guilty to violating a Florida law criminalizing child neglect, finding the offense qualifies as a deportable crime under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.

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State AGs Target 'Anticompetitive Recycling Practices'

By Matthew Perlman

The attorneys general of Florida and several other states have said they're concerned that environmental groups are coordinating with large corporations to implement "anticompetitive recycling practices" that could violate state or federal antitrust law.

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Ga. Judge Should DQ Self From Med Mal Case, Couple Say

By Kelcey Caulder

A Florida couple have moved to disqualify a Georgia federal judge from presiding over their medical malpractice case, citing alleged conflicts of interest involving the judge's family members and their connections to Southeast Georgia Health System Inc.

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4 Things To Know About Fla. Bar Admissions Reform Ideas

By Madison Arnold

A work group has issued its final report on possible changes to bar exam admission requirements in Florida, proposing 12 potential alternatives to the current system of requiring graduates to come from law schools accredited by the American Bar Association.

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Ethics Atty Says Tattler's Timing Supports 'Blackmail' Threat

By Matthew Santoni

A Pennsylvania attorney told a Florida bankruptcy court that debtors he'd been trying to collect from for years had unreported assets, just days after he allegedly threatened their lawyer that he would do so if they didn't pay up, state ethics watchdogs told a disciplinary panel Thursday.

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Fla. Attys Face Stricter Penalty For Settling Dead Client's Case

By David Minsky

The Florida Supreme Court justices on Thursday said they favored a three-year suspension for two attorneys facing ethics charges, rejecting a recommended 18-month penalty for settling a client's case after he died. 

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Nicaraguan Businessman Sues Citi Over $270K Account Freeze

By Katryna Perera

A Nicaraguan businessman has sued Citibank in Florida federal court, alleging the bank froze and closed his accounts holding more than $270,000 without explanation and has failed to return the money to him.

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Florida Tribe Sues PFAS Makers Over Health Risks, Cleanup

By David Minsky

A Florida tribe has brought a civil action in South Carolina federal court against several makers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, alleging their land is contaminated by products containing the so-called forever chemicals. 

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Series

Practicing Stoicism Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Practicing Stoicism, by applying reason to ignore my emotions and govern my decisions, has enabled me to approach challenging situations in a structured way, ultimately providing advice singularly devoted to a client's interest, says John Baranello at Moses & Singer.

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Judge Blasted For Violent Sexual Comments Against Minors

By Spencer Brewer

The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct has reprimanded a municipal judge for directing sexual remarks at children and wishing sexual violence upon them, noting that the judge exhibited racial bias from the bench.

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Meet The Judge Hearing Comey's, James' US Atty Challenges

By Jack Karp

The South Carolina federal judge who will consider former FBI Director James Comey's and New York Attorney General Letitia James' challenges to the authority of the interim U.S. attorney who brought separate criminal charges against them is known for her rigorous preparation and exacting standards.

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Comey Wins Bid For Judge Oversight In Privilege Dispute

By Jared Foretek

A Virginia federal judge has appointed U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick to preside over the privilege review of seized materials in the U.S. Department of Justice's case against former FBI Director James Comey, denying the DOJ's proposal for an outside "filter team" of government attorneys to conduct the review themselves.

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NJ Attys Punch Up Governor's Race With Campaign Funds

By Jake Maher

New Jersey's legal community has donated more than $900,000 to the gubernatorial candidates this election, with the Democrat surpassing the Republican in contributions, campaign finance records show.

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Habba Cites Essayli Ruling To Defend Role In NJ Cases

By Carla Baranauckas

The U.S. Department of Justice has urged the Third Circuit to reinstate Alina Habba's authority in two criminal prosecutions, arguing a recent California ruling backs her power to supervise cases as first assistant, even if she's barred from acting as U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey under federal vacancy law.

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Sidley's 'Incomplete' Story Hid Fraud Scheme, Family Says

By Chart Riggall

A family alleging it was roped into an illegal tax sheltering scheme on the advice of a former Sidley Austin LLP attorney has urged a Georgia federal judge to keep its suit against the firm alive, arguing a jury should decide when the family knew enough about the fraud to move forward with its claims.

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Copyright Rules For AI Creations Too Strict, IP Panel Says

By Ivan Moreno

The U.S. Copyright Office's rule barring registration of works created entirely by artificial intelligence systems may be overly strict and unlikely to endure, according to a panel of legal experts who discussed the matter Wednesday at the American Intellectual Property Law Association's annual conference in D.C.

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Judges Say Judicial Freedom Key To Maintaining Rule Of Law

By Rachel Konieczny

Colorado state and federal judges provided a glimpse Wednesday into how courts decide cases when facing current challenges to the rule of law, agreeing that judicial independence is paramount to maintaining the heart of the United States' legal system.

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Analysis

Defamation Litigation Roundup: Drake, IRS, Greenpeace

By Theresa Schliep

In this month's review of defamation fights, Law360 highlights notable developments in California's anti-SLAPP law following a major Ninth Circuit opinion, as well as a decision — and appeal — in Drake's fight with his record label over Kendrick Lamar's diss track.

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